E85 Eating Fuel Lines?

[blageo23]

The last year I was battling my car running like crap. The thing sounded like a subaru when driving. Long story short I pulled the fuel filter (aeromotive ss filter) and the thing was black. I took it out gave it a nice rinse and put it back in. The car ran like a champ until I let it sit for a month and then it started doing the same thing. I am running SS AN lines from tank back to tank.
So my question is does E85 eat away at fuel lines? I tried searching a little bit and nothing gave me and solid answers..

[Speedfreak]

Short answer is yes.

I've had similar issues with one of my cars, and have had injector issues with e85 on both my modded cars.

A friend had his lines turn to mush after sitting a little while.

[evotuner]

I asked Ron at RS Motors this about a year ago and he said hes never seen it happen, not to say it doesnt but he sees more E85 cars than most. I've been running E85 only in my VIII for over 2 years and it sits 6+ months a year and nothing has happened. Bad luck? lol

[Speedfreak]

I will say it was OK for a while (years), but eventually went to crap after sitting for a while.

[dsmghost]

Google e85 black goo

I switched to e85 and after 6000 miles my filter was clogged and my injector tips were clogged up with the black goo. Some people get it, some don't.

[Murlo26]

I have run e85 in my car for over 4 years and my car has sit dormant for half of that maybe more.

Never had any issues with fuel lines degrading etc. That being said I have a new set of injectors, feed line, and fuel pump setup right now and most of my stuff has changed multiple times over those years.

The e85 seems to eat up older cars more so than newer ones as newer ones have to deal with ethanol in the gas to a certain extent anyway.

[1QUICK4]

Some say the goo is from where you fill up also. Possibly old diesel in the tanks

[Shane@DBPerformance]

The black goo is something different than the lines failing, but I have seen it happen. I have had aftermarket lines get all gooey and fail on pump gas cars also, but it was a specific brand of lines that just sucked.

If you get fuel on the outside of most lines, including SS lines, they will fail.

[Legolas337]

Just last year I had my supply line rupture right before the filter in the engine bay. the car wouldn't even start. I have -10 an SS supply and looking at the line it was like the rubber had folded into the middle of the line. I have know idea how old the lines are, but they had run E85 in them and I had pump gas in them at the time of failure. I just plan on replacing all lines this next fall when it goes into storage for the winter.

[blageo23]

My injectors had some goo on the tips but not in the tips. And the filter was didn't have goo on it it was more wet powdery substance. I literally sprayed it off with a garden hose

[carltalon]

The - 6an feed line on my laser was breaking down when I desided to part of out. It would clog the filter very quickly. Not all braided stainless lines are alcohol compatible. I'm still running the stock feed on my eclipse. I never store it with E85 in the lines and tank. I always switch back to regular pump before winter

[turbotalon1g]

I just put Stabil in the tank, works perfectly every year.

[spoolin d dub]

Yes E85 will eat your SS lines. It happened to my lines in several different spots from the front to back of the car. Notice the black spots in this pic


But blageo23 your issue is Black goo. its just some chemical reaction that happens with E85. Especially when a car sits. Not sure why. You just fix it by running regular gas every so often and it'll clear it up.

[sleepydsm]

BAGEL,

Could it be that since your entire feed line is SS AN line, which as you know is just essentially rubber hose, is falling apart from the inside?. Wonder if you could pull a section to verify its not deteriorating.

I ran e85 from the same areas you would get it and never had a clogged filter (but did have gooey tips).

[sleepydsm]

Worst case you could get some AN anodized aluminum hardline and be a baller.